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When we were first sent home from school on March 19, 2020 everyone was exhilarated. It was immigration day and we were all in our groups going through the different stages of the day. When we were closing out the day while watching a movie, all students, parents, and administrators received an email that we would go on spring break with an additional week. This was so the school could prepare a plan if virtual school was necessary because of the pandemic and COVID spreading throughout the school. This virus was fairly new and just began spreading in the US, however I believed that everyone was underreacting. I gave all of my best friends hugs and said goodbye because I had a feeling that I might not see them again for a while, but I did not think it could've been more than a year. When I first heard and read about COVID, I didn't realize how much it would grow to affect so many people nationwide. I would have never thought that we would be quarantined in our homes for months and not be able to hang out with friends and family, go to restaurants, and enjoy our normal lives for a long time. We are now gaining a small sense of normalcy and I hope to go back to our normal lives soon.

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Family Interview - Surina (twin sister, 13 years old)

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Family Interview - Surina (twin sister, 13 years old)

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Q: What is something that you/our family did during the pandemic that you truly enjoyed?

A: Going on golf cart rides and playing board games

Q: What is something you haven't been able to do, but hope to do soon?

A: Being able to see friends and family without masks and hugging them

Q: Do you prefer learning online or going to school in person?

A: In-person

Q: Have you made any new friends during the pandemic so far?

A: Yes, Samantha V, Clara, Arianna

Q: Are there any new lessons you have learned throughout this pandemic?

A: To appreciate things a lot more especially school and family

Q: Have you developed any new interests or hobbies?

A: I have always loved piano and continued to do it online. I also developed a new interest in science.

Q: What was your favorite thing to do while we were quarantined?

A:  My favorite thing was to spend time with my family and play games together.

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The pandemic made me realize the things that are very important to me. Not being able to see friends and family, especially my grandparents, for such a long period of time was awful. Although I have always been grateful for the people around me, the pandemic taught me not to take the important people in my life for granted. Not being able to see family or hang out with friends made me very unhappy all the time and affected me greatly. I realized that it is important to have some change in your life and not be stuck in the same routine everyday or things are unbearably boring. I realized that I must learn how to adapt to change because things are not always going to be fair or go as planned. We must all make the best of every situation we are in and stay positive and have happy thoughts.

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Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter passed away in a fatal helicopter crash. The world was greatly affected when this amazing and talented man and his 13 year old daughter, Gianna, were taken away from us. This was an extremely sad time for everyone and they will forever be missed.
😭💔🕊🥺

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Family Interview - Siara (little sister, 7 years old)

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Family Interview - Siara (little sister, 7 years old)

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Q: During the pandemic, you often played outside for a long time. What is your favorite thing to do outside?

A: Catch lizards

Q: Have you made any new friends during the pandemic so far?

A: Lillian, Ily, and Fabiana

Q: Are you happy that you are back at school in-person or did you prefer virtual school?

A: I am happy with in-person school.

Q: What was the favorite thing that you did during our quarantine?

A: Bake

Q: What is your favorite toy which you have received during the pandemic?

A: My slothicorn stuffed animal

Q: What is your favorite movie or TV Show?

A: Archibald’s Next Big Thing & Harry Potter

Q: Who is your favorite musician? What is your favorite song?

A: Dua Lipa; “Levitating” by Dua Lipa

Q: Is there anything new you have learned throughout this pandemic?

A: To play the piano; I like to spend my time outdoors.

Q: What is something you haven't been able to do but hope to do soon?

A: Win a trophy

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With thousands of vaccines being distributed to people around the world, hopefully, the COVID cases will slowly decrease. Soon, teens will be eligible to receive the vaccine, but as of now they are only available to 16+.

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When we were first sent home from school last year and had an extra week of spring break, I discovered new shows to watch and enjoyed every one of them. My favorite show that I have ever watched is Gilmore Girls, even to the point where I rewatched it twice. I also loved Gossip Girl, Never Have I Ever, and On My Block. Currently, I am also watching what has become one of my favorite shows - Grey’s Anatomy. There are 17 seasons and are still coming out with new episodes and I absolutely love the drama and seeing what goes on in a hospital. Soon, I really want to watch The Crown and the next season of Sweet Magnolias, once it finally comes out!!

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The pandemic seems as if it will never end...especially back in 2020. Months and months went by with people not able to go out and enjoy themselves, and instead, quarantined in their homes with not much to do.

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During our trip in Boston, we visited the New England Aquarium and saw penguins for the first time! 💦

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Joe Biden has been elected the President of the United States 2021-2024. Biden won 360 electoral votes and 51.3% of the popular vote. Kamala Harris has been elected as the first woman to be the Vice President of the United States of America ❤️🤍💙

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During spring break, my family and I visited Boston, where we toured Harvard University, my dream college.

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Locked in our houses filled with despair
As COVID infects our very fresh air
Not able to see my family and friends
Hopefully soon this will come to an end
Virtual school is not so cool
We all just want to go back to school
Trying to keep ourselves busy at home
Feeling like we won't go out until we are grown
Dissapointment, boredom, sadness, and more
Constantly cleaning and cleaning the drawers
Longing to visit restaurants and our grandparents' house
But our chances of that were as small as a mouse
However, often there were very happy moments
Wishing the laughter would forever be permanent

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Throughout my whole life I always loved singing and music in general. I played the violin for about 6 years and I have played the piano on and off for the last 4 years. The pandemic really gave me a chance to be able to pursue my passions in the amount of free time I had, especially during the summer. Although my piano and voice lessons were online, I was still able to learn a lot considering the conditions we were in. I improved so much in my piano skills, and now I am able to accompany my voice with the piano. I can sing and play so many songs and because of all of the practice, I am able to learn and pick up concepts so much faster.

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Siara, my little sister, had her kindergarten graduation last year at home, due to the pandemic. Although she couldn’t be in the beautiful auditorium walking across the stage, we made it as special as we could and decorated and celebrated just as if it was a normal graduation!

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After a very long time and until numbers started going down and more people were vaccinated, I hung out with my friends - Ava Miller, Krystal Molina, and Carol Heumann!

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https://youtu.be/Q7uuBTlXPiA
Derek Chauvin trial verdict was read after the death of George Floyd. Derek Chauvin used extremely harmful force with George Floyd which led to his death after having Chauvin’s knee on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. Derek Chauvin was found guilty of three charges and will be put in prison for his actions. I am very glad that this ex-police officer will face sever consequences because it marks the start of the modification of the extremely messed up justice system in America.

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VIDEO: Verdict read in Derek Chauvin trial in death of George Floyd

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My twin sister and I turned 13 on October 12, 2020 during the pandemic!  In the morning, I decorated Surina’s room before she woke up. I bought string lights with clips where I could attach pictures and added 20+ pictures of both of us over the years. When her alarm went off, I played Happy Birthday on a speaker. Although we were quarantined and couldn’t leave the house to celebrate, our parents made it a very special day for us! Our bathroom was filled with balloons and there were yellow Happy Birthday signs hanging from wall to wall, to the point where we could barely walk through them. They stuck big letters in our front yard which spelled out “Happy 13th Birthday!” and we took many pictures to remember this special day. They ordered big “1” and “3” balloons and put them in our rooms which we kept for weeks. We received many gifts, including a new laptop which was very helpful considering school was online. My twin sister baked me a cake which was beautiful! Overall, it was one of the best birthdays I had celebrated and even with the pandemic standing in our way, our parents made it very special!

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The pandemic has left people quarantined and stuck in their homes for months! There was no school, everything took place online through our computers and phones. Everyone just wanted to get out of their homes and enjoy their lives but unfortunately, we were not able to. In other places, people were under lockdown and were not able to leave their homes at all, but Florida remained open for the most part. The number of cases is still high but hopefully with vaccines, everything will calm down soon.